Perioperative protective effects of statins

Although statins decrease cholesterol synthesis, they also possess ‘pleiotropic’ effects, such as enhancing the function of vascular endothelium and the stability of atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, they attenuate oxidative stress, inflammation, and the prothrombotic response. These diverse biological actions may explain their perioperative protective effects, especially in patients undergoing cardiac and major vascular procedures. Beyond reductions in perioperative mortality and cardiorenal complications, recent evidence also suggests outcome benefits from statin exposure in sepsis, airway hyperreactivity, and venous thromboembolism. It is likely that these agents will be increasingly prescribed perioperatively as high-quality evidence from well-designed randomized trials becomes available in the near future

Elective Total Knee Replacement in a Patient With a Left Ventricular Assist Device-Navigating the Challenges With Spinal Anesthesia.

Elective joint surgery in a patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may become increasingly common as these devices become entrenched in the management of patients with heart failure. Furthermore, regional techniques may be reasonable anesthetic options in this challenging population. This case conference discusses a spinal anesthetic for an elderly female with an LVAD who presented for an elective left total knee arthroplasty. The expert case commentaries that follow the case discussion further explore the anesthetic issues in light of the existing literature

Abrupt formation of intracardiac thrombus during cardiopulmonary bypass with full heparinization -A case report-

Intracardiac thrombus during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with full heparinization is very rare but fatal. A 60-year-old woman was scheduled for aortic and mitral valve repairs with a maze procedure for mixed aortic and mitral valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography showed moderate aortic regurgitation and moderate mitral stenosis with regurgitation. There was no intracardiac thrombus. Aortic and mitral valve repairs with the maze procedure were successfully performed without unexpected events. During CPB weaning, a mobile hyper-echogenic mass in the left atrium was detected on transesophageal echocardiography. After cardiac arrest, it was surgically removed. On completion of the operation, weaning from CPB was accomplished uneventfully. The patient fully recovered and was discharged from the intensive care unit on her third postoperative day

Delayed intracardial shunting and hypoxemia after massive pulmonary embolism in a patient with a biventricular assist device

We describe the interdisciplinary management of a 34-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy three months postpartum on a cardiac biventricular assist device (BVAD) as bridge to heart transplantation with delayed onset of intracardial shunting and subsequent hypoxemia due to massive pulmonary embolism. After emergency surgical embolectomy pulmonary function was highly compromised (PaO2/FiO2 54) requiring bifemoral veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Transesophageal echocardiography detected atrial level hypoxemic right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Percutaneous closure of the PFO was achieved with a PFO occluder device. After placing the PFO occluder device oxygenation increased significantly (Δ paO2 119 Torr). The patient received heart transplantation 20 weeks after BVAD implantation and was discharged from ICU 3 weeks after transplantation

Genetic basis of hyperlysinemia

Background: Hyperlysinemia is an autosomal recessive inborn error of L-lysine degradation. To date only one causal mutation in the AASS gene encoding aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase has been reported. We aimed to better define the genetic basis of hyperlysinemia. Methods. We collected the clinical, biochemical and molecular data in a cohort of 8 hyperlysinemia patients with distinct neurological features. Results: We found novel causal mutations in AASS in all affected individuals, including 4 missense mutations, 2 deletions and 1 duplication. In two patients originating from one family, the hyperlysinemia was caused by a contiguous gene deletion syndrome affecting AASS and PTPRZ1. Conclusions: Hyperlysinemia is caused by mutations in AASS. As hyperlysinemia is generally considered a benign metabolic variant, the more severe neurological disease course in two patients with a contiguous deletion syndrome may be explained by the additional loss of PTPRZ1. Our findings illustrate the importance of detailed biochemical and genetic studies in any hyperlysinemia patient

Анестезиологическое обеспечение пациентов с диссекцией аорты типа А

«It is type of surgery that is not for the lone operator… Team is of course essential in the operating theater, where in addition to the surgical and nursing assistants, the anesthesiologist plays a part of fundamental importance which deserves a special tribute.»  Russel C. Brock, 1949 Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) for the adult aortic arch repair is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, there is significant variation in the conduct of this complex perioperative technique. The variation in the practice of DHCA has not been adequately characterized and may offer multiple therapeutic opportunities for outcome enhancement and reduction of procedural risk. The International Aortic Arch Study Group (IAASSG) was recently organized to investigate an optimal neuroprotection during the thoracic aortic reconstruction.«Этот тип хирургического вмешательства не предназначен для одного хирурга … В операционной важна, несомненно, команда, в которой, помимо ассистентов-хирургов и хирургических сестер, анестезиолог играет основополагающую роль, что заслуживает особой награды.»  Рассел К. Брок, 1949Глубокая гипотермическая остановка кровообращения (ГГОК) для хирургической коррекции дуги аорты у взрослых все еще ассоциируется с высоким уровнем летальности и осложнений. Кроме того, имеются существенные расхождения в выполнении этой сложной периоперативной техники. Вариации в практике ГГОК не были адекватно охарактеризованы и могут предоставить множество терапевтических возможностей для улучшения исхода и снижения риска процедуры. Недавно была создана Международная группа по исследованию дуги аорты, задачей которой является изучение оптимальной нейропротекции во время реконструкции грудного отдела аорты